MISSION & OBJECTIVE

The Imago Film Festival is a week-long event hosted by Judson University in Elgin, Illinois (about 30 miles west of Chicago). Imago will be holding our 13th Annual Film Festival on April 4-8, 2017. This will include Featured Screenings, Workshops, Speakers, and Film Discussions.

The Festival showcases independent film that deals with faith issues, emphasizing image and story. The festival films capture the full spectrum of human emotion, experience, and spirituality.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

This year's film festival will include five days of original films, nationally known speakers, film discussions, workshops, and an awards ceremony. The prizes for the winning films are as follows: Best of Show - $1000; 2nd Place - $500; 3rd Place - $300; Audience Choice Award - $200.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The Imago Film Festival is designed to showcase short films of spiritual significance. We are looking for filmmakers with a desire to create films with both artistic merit and cultural relevance.

Films should be less than 30 minutes in length, and any genre is acceptable.

Imago places its emphasis on two things: image and story. Without these, culture cannot be engaged or explained. We encourage filmmakers from diverse backgrounds and perspectives--students and professionals alike--to provide image and story about the spiritual journey of the human experience. We encourage stories that experiment with the wonder and struggle of this journey.

Imago understands that such license may result in themes and images which may be offensive to some. While Imago reserves the right not to show submissions with gratuitous violence or obscenity, we strongly encourage filmmakers to capture the full spectrum of human emotion, experience, and spirituality.

ORGANIZERS

Terrence Wandtke (Festival Director)

GENERAL RULES

SUBMISSIONS - Official Rules & Regulations
All submissions should be in DVD or Blu-Ray format (NTSC only). Contestants may enter as many films as they like. Please complete an online submission for EACH entry.

Registration fees are for EACH submission. Submissions should be sent to:

Payment can be made by cash, credit card, or check payable in US dollars to “Imago Film Festival.” Please write the title of your film in the “memo” section of the check.

Please read the complete Rules and Regulations below before submitting.

GENRES
Drama, comedy, documentary, experimental, music video... there are virtually no limits

FORMATS
You may submit a film created in any acquisition format (mini-DV, 16mm, 35mm, etc.). However, you must submit your film on either: DVD, Blu-Ray, high quality video (US Region).

Foreign films must be subtitled in English or dubbed into English.
Films must be submitted on DVD, Blu-Ray, or high quality video (US Region).

If you are submitting more than one film, you may submit them all on one tape. You must, however, submit a separate submission form and separate entry fee for each film (combined entry fees can be paid on one check).

SCREENINGS
Films may be showcased at various times throughout the week of the festival. Imago reserves the right to place your film on any promotional material we see fit.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

ELIGIBILITY & RULES

If your film is accepted, you grant Imago permission to showcase your film at our various screenings at the 2017 Festival.

The Imago Film Festival reserves the right to use an entry for promotion and publicity purposes and to broadcast excerpts of selected works at any time, and to publish excerpts, or other appropriate segments thereof, in print or electronic media to promote the event. Clips of your accepted submission may also be used in an Imago promotional (not for sale) reel; therefore all rights must be cleared for festival and compilation usage by final submission deadline. Rights also must be secured for the Imago Film Festival to include stills, and/or short clips for promotional (not-for-sale) reel distribution and placement on the Imago website to be available for streaming online. Through a written request, you may opt out of Imago's use of your material after one year.

The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.

The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless Imago Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.